Focusing mechanism
AssigneeWelch Allyn, Inc.
InventorsSteven R. Slawson, Ronald A. Hauptli, Chris R. Roberts, Allan I. Krauter, Ervin Goldfain
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A focusing mechanism for an optical instrument includes an eyepiece having at least one lens element retained within an eyepiece housing, a stationary carrier for retaining the eyepiece, and a rotatable thumb wheel. A pair of levers operatively connect the eyepiece housing with the rotatable thumb wheel, the thumb wheel including corresponding pairs of cam channels on either side for receiving one end of a corresponding lever, the remaining end of each lever engaging the eyepiece housing, wherein rotational movement of the thumb wheel produces axial movement of the eyepiece relative to said carrier.
Claims35
A focusing mechanism comprising:
- a eyepiece having at least one lens element retained within an eyepiece housing;
- a stationary carrier for retaining said eyepiece;
- a rotatable thumb wheel operatively connected to said stationary carrier;
- and
- at least one lever operatively connecting said eyepiece housing and said thumb wheel, said thumb wheel including a cam channel for receiving a first end of said at least one lever, and in which an opposing second end of said at least one lever engages said eyepiece housing, such that rotational movement of said thumb wheel produces corresponding axial movement of the eyepiece relative to the stationary carrier.
An optical instrument comprising:
- an instrument housing;
- an eyepiece;
- a stationary carrier disposed within said instrument housing and sized for retaining said eyepiece;
- a rotatable thumb wheel operatively connected to said stationary carrier;
- and
- at least one lever operatively connecting said eyepiece and said rotatable thumb wheel, said thumb wheel including a cam channel for receiving a first end of said at least one lever, and in which an opposing second end of said at least one lever engages said eyepiece such that rotational movement of said thumb wheel produces corresponding axial movement of the eyepiece relative to the stationary carrier.
A method of axially adjusting an eyepiece of an optical instrument along an optical axis of said instrument, said method comprising the steps of:
- retaining an eyepiece housing in a stationary carrier, said stationary carrier being operatively connected to a rotatable thumb wheel;
- linking a first end of at least one lever to said rotatable thumb wheel and a second end of said at least one lever to said eyepiece housing, said at least one lever being hingably attached to said stationary carrier;
- and
- rotating said rotatable thumb wheel, causing the first end of said at least one lever to track a spiral channel of said thumb wheel, pivoting said at least one lever about the hingable attachment to said stationary carrier to produce axial movement of said eyepiece.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.